Casing protector



Oct. 1,1935`. H. R. DECKER CASING' PROTECTOR Filed NOV. 13, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l H. R. DECKER CASING PROTECTOR Oct. 1, 1935.

Filed Nov. l5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 oct. 1, 1935. H, R DECKER l 2,016,077

CASING PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ttozueq 4 Patented c't. 1935 PATENT OFFICE CASING PROTECTOR Harry R. Decker, Houston, ITex., assignor of onehalf to Mellie Esperson Stewart, Harris County,

Tex.

Application November 13, 1928, Serial No. 319,062

2 Claims.

This invention relates to lnew and useful im-v provements in a casing protector.

One object of the invention is to provide a casing protector of the character described specially designed for application to a drill stem for the purpose of preventing the drill stem and the joints connecting the sections thereof from coming into frictional contact with the casing during drilling operations.

Another object of the invention is to p-rovide a casing protector which may be readily mounted on a drill stem either when the sections thereof are connected together and without separating said sections or which may be mounted on the drill stem sections before they are made up into the stem, proper, and which when mounted, on the stem, will be retained in proper position thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a casing protector which may be opened at one side and applied around the stem and then easily secured around the stem so as to clamp the stem in such manner as to prevent the endwise movement of the protector on the stem;

The invention also comprehends the provision of a protector of the character described which is very strong and durable and which is at the same time of very simple construction so that it may be cheaply and easily manufactured and readily applied to the stem.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a fragmentary cross sectional view of a well casing showing a drill stem therein, equipped with a preferred form of the protector.

Figure 2 shows an end View of the protector partly in section.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation thereof.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary cross sectional view of a well casing showing a drill stem therein, with another form of the protector thereon.

Figure 5 shows an end view of this type of protector partly in. section.

Figure 6 shows a side view thereof, partly in section.

Figure 'l shows a fragmentary cross sectionalA View of a well casing showing the drill stem therein equipped with still another form of the protector.

Figure 8 shows an end View of this type of protector partly in section, and

Figure 9 shows a side elevation thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate 5 similar parts in each of the iigures the numeral I designates the casing adapted to be set in a well bore and the numeral 2 designates the drill stem whose sections are connected by joints as 3.

In drilling wells, particularly deep wells, the 10 bore usually follows a moreV or less sinuous course and the casing I, of course, must follow the course of the bore so that the drill stem which works through the casing, in drilling, is not maintained concentric with the casing but at the bends l5 or curves rubs against the interior wall thereof and often the connecting joints 3 of the stem wear holes through the casing thus permitting outside water to leak through into the well. The protector hereindescribed has been provided for the pur- 20 pose of preventing this contact of the stern and its joints with the casing and preventing the wearing of holes through` the casing by said joints. The type of protector 4 shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 is composed of an open ring preferably 25 formed of rubber or similar material which is reinforced throughout with fabric reinforcementv as 5. In applying this protector to the stem it of the protector and the outside overlapping end is provided with holes as I2 arranged to register with the rivets I0 so that when the said ends are 40 brought in to interengaging relation in the position shown in Figure 2 the rivets III will project through the corresponding holes I2 and through washers I3 which are countersunk into the outside overlapping end of the protector. The free 45 ends of the rivets IIJ will project through said washers and when the protector is assembled around the drill stem these projecting ends may be riveted against said washers I3 by a hammer or other suitable implement so as to form the 50 protector into a continuous protecting sleeve around the stem.

In moulding the protector the rivets I Il and washers I3 are moulded into the material so that these parts for securing the protector onto 55 the pipe will be in proper position for a quick and easy assembly of the protector onto the stem. In riveting the outer ends of the rivets l@ their inner ends will rest Vsecurely against the drill stern 2, so that the riveting operation may be effectively Vcarried out.

In form shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the protector I4 is also or" the open type with the abutting free ends provided one with a lengthwise tenon l adapted to t into a corresponding groove i6 in the other free end. This type of protector is also reinforced throughout with fab-r ric as il said fabric being formed into loops [8, lil near the free ends of the protector a'nd'vvithin these loops are the bearings for the securing rods I9, I9. The free ends of the protector may be secured together by links as 20, preferably formed of metal. These links are tted into the slots as 2l, Which are provided in the mate,-V rial of the protector when the same is moulded.

f One of the rods I9 may be inserted through the corresponding ends ofthe' links 20 and the heads 21, 2| formed thereon by riveting the same. In applying this form of protector to thestem it is sprung open0 and fitted around the stem and the other rod le is then inserted in place through bearings'in the'other ends of said links and the heads 2l, 2l then formed thereon to secure the protector in place.

In the forni shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 the free ends of the protector 22 are provided with the lingers 23 which are dovetailed in form and these'n'gers are formed to interlock, that is, the fingers of eachend t into opposing dovetailedA mortises 2@ of the other end. The free ends ofthe fingers vare formed' with tenons 25 which rltint'o opposing grooves 25 When said free ends of Vtheprotecto1'"`2 are interlocked together. In order to secure these interlocking fingers in inteilocked relation, a tie wire 21 isl inserted through the bearings 28, 28 and the free ends 29 of this tie are then secured together in any approved manner.- This type of protector is also provided with fabric reinforcement 30 which is formed into theV loops 3l, 3| through Which the bearings 28 pass.

As hereinbefore stated each form of the protector shown is of the open ring type so that in applying the protector to the drill stem it may be sprung open and fitted around the stem and clamped tightly therearound and thek free ends then interlocked and secured together as stated, and the protector will be thereby held against endvvise movement on the stern.

In practice, a protector shouldV be placed at each end of the stem adjacent the coupling thereof and as the stem is rotated the protectors vvill ride against the inside wall of the casing and thus hold the stem and the couplings thereof 'out of contact with the casing thus reducing thefriction *and preventing the stem couplings from Wearing through the casing, during drilling operation. In order for the protectors to be effective for this purpose the outside diameter of each protector is somewhat greater than the outside diameter of the couplings of the drill stem.

v' Preferred forms o f the invention have been described and shown and their more important purposes have been mentioned, but it is obvious that mechanical changes and adaptations may be made without departing from the principle of the invention and I reserve the right to make such changes. and adaptations as may be comprehended within the principle of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A wellfcasing protector comprising a, ring of resilient material open at one side, and adapted to be sprung open and fitted around a drill stem between the couplings thereof, the ends of said ring overlapping, and formed to interlock and rivets tted through said overlapping ends. 

